Arrangement relating to a nut for location in an open channel section

ABSTRACT

A nut for accommodation in an open channel section (1) is comprised by a main body (6) provided with a threaded hole (7) and a gripping means (8) connected to the main body. The gripping means comprises a clamping device (9) for co-operation with the limiting edges (3, 4) of a longitudinal opening (2) in the channel section. During insertion of the nut in the channel section the gripping means is subjected to a torque about two generally orthogonal axes, and upon completed insertion the nut is held in the correct position by means of a form and/or friction locking co-operation between the limiting edges (3, 4) of the opening (2) and indentations (12, 13) in the legs of a U-shaped loop (9) constituting the clamping device.

The present invention relates to an arrangement relating to a nut forlocation in an open channel section as recited in the preamble of claim1.

Previously known nuts of this type are, before the screwing in of thebolt, binder or the like, held in the channel section by means ofhelical springs on the top or sides of the nut. Such nuts are difficultto remove from the channel section once they have been brought in placeand, in addition, are difficult to displace in the channel section, forinstance for adjustment to the desired bolt position. During poorlighting conditions, as the situation often will be when the channelsection is used for ceiling attachment, it may be difficult to see thenut in the channel section, with difficulties resulting when the bolt orthe like is to be screwed in place.

The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of saidtype, which does not suffer from the above deficiencies and drawbacks,and which at the same time is simple both to use and to manufacture.

This is obtained according to the invention by the arrangement beingprovided with the features recited in the characterizing clause ofclaim 1. Further advantageous features of the invention are recited inthe dependent claims.

The design of the nut according to the invention with a gripping meanspermits very simple insertion of the nut in the channel section. Theclamping device of the gripping means holds the nut in place, bothbefore and while the bolt or the like is being screwed in. Furthermore,the clamping device permits relocation of the nut in the channel sectionin a simple manner without the use of tools or other aids and, besides,the clamping device will provide a feelable indication of the locationof the nut during poor lighting conditions. Furthermore, the grippingmeans permits removing the nut from the channel section in case thisshould be desirable.

For better understanding of the invention it will be described moreclosely with reference to the exemplifying embodiments shown in theappended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows isometrically a portion of a channel section during theinsertion of a nut according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the parts in FIG. 1 after the insertion of the nut.

FIG. 3 shows the parts in FIG. 2 seen in the direction of the channelsection.

FIG. 4-7 show further embodiments of the nut according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 a portion of a channel section 1 is shown, having a generallycircular cross section and a longitudinal opening 2 having limitingedges 3 and 4. The limiting edges are bent outwards in oppositedirections so as to form longitudinal flanges. The further details ofsuch a channel section and its advantageous fields of application arementioned i.a. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,830, which is hereby incorporatedas reference.

FIG. 1 further shows a nut 5 according to the invention, in this casecomprising a rectangular main body 6 provided with a threaded hole 7 anda gripping means generally designated 8. The gripping means is comprisedby a bent metal wire and has at its one end a clamping device 9,generally in the form of a U-shaped loop. One leg of the loop 9 isconnected to the main body 6 of the nut by means of a portion 10 of themetal wire extending generally perpendicular to the axis 11 of thethreaded hole 7 of the nut.

When the nut according to the invention is to be brought in place in thechannel section 1, the loop or the clamping device 9 of the grippingmeans 8 is grasped and the main body 6 of the nut is introduced sidewaysthrough the opening 2 to the position shown in FIG. 1, the thickness ofthe main body being slightly less than the width of the opening 2. Nextthe loop 9 is subjected to a torque about an axis parallel to the axis11 of the hole 7, so that the connecting portion 10 is bent resilientlyand the main body 6 of the nut is pushed down to longitudinal contactwith the bottom of the channel scction. Thereupon the loop 9 issubjected to yet another torque, but this time with the connectingportion 10 as the axis, so that the main body 6 is rotated about 90° tothe position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Concurrently, the legs of the loop9 is clamped somewhat together so that they will fit between thelimiting edges 3 and 4 of the opening. When the loop 9 is released, itslegs will move resiliently outwards and come to frictional engagementwith the limiting edges 3 and 4 of the channel opening.

From FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 7 it will be seen that the legs of the loop 9 areprovided with indentations 12, 13 which generally fit the form of thelimiting edges 3, 4. Thereby a form-locking effect is obtainedpermitting exact alignment between the main body 6 of the nut--andparticularly its threaded hole 7--and the opening of the channel sectionin order to facilitate screwing a bolt or the like into the hole 7.

It will be seen that in the installed condition of the nut, the loop 9extends somewhat out from the channel section. This extending part ofthe loop may be gripped and used to slide the nut in the channel sectionto the desired position upon its introduction into the channel. The loopmay of course also be used to remove the nut from the channel sectionwhenever desirable.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplifying embodiment of the nut according to theinvention, where the main body 6 is provided with longitudinal serration14 on the longitudinal edges. When a bolt or the like has been tightenedin the nut, the serration will contribute to holding the nut in placeeven after loosening of the bolt.

In FIG. 5 a simplified embodiment of the gripping means 8 is shown, itsU-shaped loop having straight legs without any indentations. Thisembodiment makes it simpler to twist the nut somewhat after itsintroduction into the channel section, which may be desirable if thebolt or the like to be fixed in the hole 7 cannot be introduced exactlyat right angles into the channel section. FIG. 5 also shows anadvantageous embodiment of the main body 6 of the nut. Its top surface15 is curved in order to approximately fit the internal shape of thechannel section in order to form firm engagement even when the boltposition is somewhat askew. Furthermore, the top surface of the nut hasa conical portion 16 continuing into the threaded hole 7 of the nut,which also contributes to ease the introduction of a somewhat cantedbolt.

In FIG. 6 an embodiment is shown where the main body of the nut hasangled longitudinal edges 17 in order to provide a larger abutmentsurface with the inside of the channel section.

Finally, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the main body 6 of the nut isprovided with three adjacent threaded holes 7. Such an embodiment isadvantageous for applications where supporting brackets or the like,which are loaded in a direction parallel to the longitudinal directionof the channel section, are to be attached to the channel section.

The gripping means 8 itself may advantageously be made from resilientsteel wire, for instance piano wire, which is spot welded to the mainbody of the nut.

Even though the invention has been described herein in the form ofseveral advantageous exemplifying embodiments, the invention is in noway restricted to these, but may be varied and modified by the skilledperson in a number of ways within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. For use with an elongate channel section (1) forming aninternal cavity and having limiting edges (3,4) defining a longitudinalopening (2); a bolt fixing assembly comprising, in combination:(a) a nut(5) having a main body (6) having a pair of elongate side walls and athreaded hole (7) therein, said hole defining an axis (11), (b) andgripping means (8) for manual insertion of said nut into a channelcavity, (c) said gripping means being constructed of a single bent metalwire and including a clamping device (9) for cooperation with thelimiting edges of a channel opening, (d) said clamping device having aportion adapted to extend partially outside of a channel when said nutis positioned inside of a channel, (e) said clamping device including asingle generally U-shaped elongate loop having a pair of legs at a freeend thereof, (f) one of said legs being connected to said main body ofsaid nut by means of a leg portion (10) which extends generallyperpendicularly to said axis (11) and parallel to said elongate sidewalls.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that saidlegs of said loop (9) are provided with indentations (12, 13) which areconstructed to generally fit the limiting edges (3, 4) of an opening (2)of a channel section.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2,characterized in that said gripping means (8) is constructed of pianowire which is spot welded to the main body (6) of said nut.
 4. Theassembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main body(6) of said nut has a top surface (15) which is chamferred or curved inorder to approximately fit the internal form of a channel section (1).5. The assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said topsurface (15) has a conical portion (16) extending into said threadedhole (7).
 6. The assembly according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe main body (6) of said nut has a plurality of adjacent threaded holes(7).
 7. The bolt fixing assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein said elongateside walls of said nut (5) are adapted to be longer than the largesttransverse dimension of a channel internal cavity.